Only the humble can adore the Living God and be exalted by him. Self-aggrandizement leads to turning in on oneself and blindness to God and others. 

Gospel Passage: Lk 18:9-14 

Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else: 'Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, "I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get." The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.' 

1. Adoring before the altar of... 

We all adore before some altar. The Pharisee adores before the altar of self. He spends his time in the Temple incensing his own self-perceived grandeur. We read 'the Pharisee stood there...' In other words, he stood in the center of his own universe, not in the Temple of the living God. For this reason 'he said this prayer to himself.' He prays, not to God, but to self. He adores not before the altar of God, but before the altar of self. The tax collector adores before the altar of God, precisely by emptying himself of self. He 'stood some distance away.' In other words he gives God the first place in his adoration. He knows how much he needs light and strength from God, and how all goodness comes from God and not from him. He adores by emptying himself of his self-sufficiency and by trusting in God's mercy and love. He adores in true humility, 'not even daring to raise his eyes to heaven.'  

Number 2097 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church sheds light on the true spirit of adoration: 

To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the "nothingness of the creature" who would not exist but for God. To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name. The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world. Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner. You know how fallen and broken I am. You know how much I need your grace. You know how I often presume on my own strength and become self-sufficient and tend to trust in myself. Help me to empty myself of self and adore you in spirit and in truth. Teach me meekness and humility of heart.  

2. Holding on and letting go... 

Pride is based on holding on to something I have and becoming possessive of it for its own sake. The Pharisee thanks God for the virtues he imagines he has. He believes he is generous, just, pure, and charitable. He prides himself on these virtues, believing they make him good. He bases his self-esteem and value on himself, on what he believes he possesses. He holds on to these qualities as if he were their origin and foundation. He lives outside of reality and allows himself to be puffed up with his own self-conceit. He condemns others to further exalt himself. He is blinded to the truth that 'he who exalts himself will be humbled'. The tax collector lets go of all he possesses, even his own personal worth. He is detached and seeks to possess nothing for its own sake, but all for the glory of God and the good of others. He thanks God for his mercy and knows that he has no virtue without God's grace. He bases his self-esteem and value on the Father's love and mercy toward him. He holds on to nothing, because everything is a gift from God freely given to his unworthy servant. He lives in the truth and is content with weakness because his weakness opens him up to God's grace. Begging mercy for himself, he has no time to judge others. He humbles himself and is exalted: 'This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God.' 

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart more like yours. Thank you for all you have given me. Help me to know that all I have is from you. May I never be possessive and attached to the gifts and qualities you have given to me. May I give them back to you by using them for your glory and honor. May I humble myself to be exalted by you.  

Questionnaire: To help you to examine your life, in the light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you shared with him. 

1. Do I adore God in spirit and in truth? Do I adore him as he deserves in his infinite greatness and majesty? Does my adoration help me to remain meek and humble of heart?  

2. Do I turn to God in humility like the tax collector, repeating his words, 'Lord have mercy on me a sinner?' 

3. Am I possessive of anything, or am I rather grateful to God for all I have and use everything for his glory, to fulfill my mission in life for my true good and the good of others?